Military cyber security specialists are becoming a welcome part of the civilian workforce, and now there's a training opportunity in San Antonio for veterans and military members who may be headed in an entrepreneurial direction.

It wasn’t so long ago that few had heard about cyber security, but it suddenly rocketed into reality for a broad cross section of shoppers after the recent data breach at Target stores.

But military cyber security specialists have done this work for decades, and their high level of expertise is highly marketable once they become veterans.

San Antonio’s John Dickson, who as a member of the U.S. Air Force Space Command Commanders Group, advises the government on defense-related cyber security issues, is working this weekend with some of the military’s top cyber specialists at a business boot camp.

“We’re looking for folks that may be at certain stages of departing the military. They come from Security Hill or Fort Sam and they have some background in cyber or cyber security and are looking to create their own business,” Dickson said.

Dickson, a principle with San Antonio security software company the Denim Group, says initially 14 to 16 people were accepted into the program -- there’s room for another ten. Dickson says he recognized recently that military cyber specialists are very good at the “doing,” but often lack the business acumen needed in private industry.

“And what we’re trying to do in kind of a ten-day-MBA [master of business administration]-boot-camp way, is to expose them to all of the major business concepts that they never get exposed to in the military,” he said.

The bootcamp is the first of four this year. This weekend’s session focuses on business strategy and planning. Subsequent courses offer training in human resources, financing, and finally, sales & marketing. There is no charge, and the class will be held at the Chamber Northside offices at Loop 410 and Blanco Road.

Those interested in the cyber-business boot camp can find more at SAchamber.org under the Latest News tab.

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